The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19
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parish of Lacrosse, are both gradually
waking up under the quiet but efficient
management of the pastor, Rev. J. M.
Psyson. Last week very enjoyable and
successful sociable was held at the home
of DR.. Wakefield, which is the beginning
of many more looked forward to in the
near future. The regular Wednesday
evening teachers and conference meet
inge, after the lapse of a year or more,
have again been resumed, and bid fair to
rival the Sunday service in instruction
and spiritual enjoyment. Our Sunday
services have gradually grown in interest
as pastor and people became acquainted,
and the attendance is increasing in spite
of the cold weather. Lacrosse may we'll
send forth the watchword, Calls WELL"
along the line.
IOWA. Cedar Rapids.-Six more
members were received into our church
three Sundays ago. This makes sixty
one members received under Rev. Mr..
Pratt's passionate Of less than two years.
The Gazette in noticing the fact says:
"The Universalist church israpidly devel.
oping into one Of the strong religious
organizations of the city"
The Usage Parish, Rev. Aaron A.
Thayer, pastor, now has two services
regularly every Sunday for the winter
season, and will omit the evening SER
vices for six months in the summer sea-
SOD, the time being devoted to mission
airy laboc in Mitchell county by the
pastor. Otranto has also weekly SER
vice regularly instead Of three services
per month, as formerly. Otranto is a
banner parish. All their services are
now held on weekday evenings, and they
have always been largely SO. But they
have full congregations, good music, con-
tinue to improve their church property,
to buy needed church furniture, ETC..
Their last weeks venture was set Of
pulpit chairs and carpet for the chancel,
purchased by the Ladies' Aid Society.
Our clergy could do much more work
for the kingdom on weekdays had they
the pluck to try.
Marshallt0wn.-Rev. j. A. Hoyt con-
tinues to supply this parish and the pros
poets are on the whole encouraging. On
the last page, among religious notices,
appears the call for Conference in this
city, Feb %, to be attended by several of
the ministers of the State; also notice
of a meeting of the Executive Committee
Bloomfield. = Sunday, Jan. 80, Rev.
j. F. SCHNEIDER preached at Bloomfield.
The parish is still without pastor, but
is looking for the right man. Rev. John
Hughes was there the Sunday preceding.
He was pastor there once and has many
friends in the place. Large congrega-
lions greeted him.
Rev. Thomas Ballinger, of Oskaloosa,
an old father in our Israel, recently held
several meetings at Bentonsport, and re-
organized our cause there. A Univers-
alist church was built there many years
ago under Br. Ballingers ministry.
Red Oak.-The Red Oak movement is
advancing under Br. Schindler's pastoral
care.
kANSAS.-HutchinsOn, = Br. George
Woodland, the Treasurer of the Board of
Trustees, writes: "The society of st. Paul's
church are feeling very happy over their
success in securing Rev. G. FL. Rogers, of
Seneca, as their pastor, to commence
the first Sunday in April. Br. Rogers
came here by invitation the first Sunday
in December, and preached on Sunday
and held evening meetings during most
of the following week. He had good con-
gregations and made many warm and
worthy friends in the city.
"The society saw that he was the right
man in the right place, and consequently
gave him unanimous call to become
pastor, and he accepted providing he
could make satisfactory arrangements
with his friends at Seneca to.give him up,
which they have finally consented to do
on the first Sunday in March. He will
continue to preach here the first Sunday
in every month, and during most of the
following week in the evening.
"Br. Rogers is an elegant pulpit orator,
and delivers his sermons with much force
aud earneetness, and holds the attention
to the close.
"Our Universalist friends may look for
bright and glorious future for ST. Paul's
church in Hutchinson, if the board of
missions will only help us until Br. Rog-
ers has time to get this society built up
and on permanent foundation"
CALIFORNIA.-UniVersalist Ser
vices in the Diamond Yalley.-Rev. J.
j. Austin, now of Southern California,
writes of an encouraging movement by
our friends in the Diamond Valley in the
golden State. He describes the location
following:
"Fhe Diamond Valley runs mainly east
and west and just eouth of the great San
Jacinto Valley. 1t is from one to three
or four miles wide and about ten Oh
twelve miles long. The altitude is 1,50C
feet above the ocean, surrounded by foot
bills, free from the wind-sand storms
] which vex other localities, and nearly free